LMP1-Spec Renaultsport R.S. 01 to Compete in One-Make Series

New Race Car Boasts Nissan GT-R Power, 2420-Pound Curb Weight

French automaker Renault has designed a race car for a one-make series. The Renaultsport R.S. 01, which meets LMP1 standards, will compete in the World Series by Renault in the Renaultsport Trophy starting next year.The Renaultsport R.S. 01 was designed not only to be aerodynamically efficient, but also as a Renault icon featuring the automaker’s logo prominently displayed at the front. The grille is flanked by slim LED daytime running lights that wrap around the brake ducts. Hood extractors suck heat from behind the radiators and increase front downforce. Other front end aerodynamic bits include the lower splitter and bumper canards.Air is channeled from the lower splitter into extractors behind the front wheels along the doors and into the intercooler scoops. Around back, a large adjustable rear wing works with the rear diffuser to create downforce without adding drag. Exterior dimensions measure 185.4 inches long on a 108-inch wheelbase with a width of 78.7 inches and a height of 43.9 inches.

The suspension is based on a double-wishbone design with pushrods and adjustable (compression and rebound) Öhlins dampers. Stopping power comes from PFC Brakes 15-inch carbon ceramic rotors and six-piston calipers and an ABS system from Bosch Motorsports.Built around a carbon fiber monocoque, the lightweight Renaultsport R.S. 01 is said to weigh less than 2420 pounds. With a steel roll cage up top and front and rear crash boxes, the race car meets FIA LMP1 2014 safety standards. Other safety features include a collapsible steering column and a Sabelt race seat with six-point harness and HANS system.The Renaultsport R.S. 01 is powered by a Nismo-tuned 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 mated to a Sadey seven-speed sequential transmission with paddle shifters. The engine is said to make more than 500 hp and more than 440 lb-ft of torque. Though it meets the safety specs of LMP1, Renault says that with its power-to-weight ratio the Renaultsport R.S. 01 will have performance between a GT3 and a DTM racer.Source: Renault